Prosecutor Christopher Wing told the court: ‘The officers approached Mr Harris and after searching him thought they found a torch before realising it was a taser gun. Three counterfeit notes were also found on him.

‘The defendant admitted it was a stun gun which he had because it was “pretty cool”. He said he had found it in Victoria Park and didn’t realise it was illegal.

‘He claimed he was given the money by a friend because he was hard up.’

The court heard how Harris had previous convictions for shoplifting, failing to surrender and burglary - resulting in a two year jail term in 2012.

The defendant, who appeared via video-link, admitted charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and carrying counterfeit notes.

Defending, Robert Bryan, admitted his mitigation was largely futile with the minimum term for carrying the weapon being five years jail. ‘There are no exceptional reasons to reduce the term so I urge your honour to keep the sentence to the minimum,’ he said.

The court was told how drug-addict Harris, of Edmonton Road, BexHill-on-Sea, East Sussex, had since stopped using illicit substances.

Judge William Ashworth agreed he would not extend the prison term for hapless Harris beyond five years - with a six month jail term for the forged notes to run concurrently alongside the five years in prison.